The Rajasthan political crisis that began with the rebellion of Sachin Pilot, comes to an end today with the Ashok Gehlot-led government winning the vote of confidence. Ashok Gehlot himself consolidated his position at the top with this win, and Pilot's return to Congress marks the end of a turbulent phase for the party in Rajasthan. Thank you everyone for joining us in this roller-coaster ride. See you, and goodnight. Do not forget to tune into Deccan Herald for much such news and updates.
Pilot, who has returned to the Congress fold after a month-long rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, made the remarks during the debate on a motion of confidence moved by the ruling party in the Rajasthan Assembly.
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In your evening news brief, From The Newsroom, Supreme Court holds Prashant Bhushan guilty in criminal contempt case; Ashok Gehlot government wins confidence vote in Rajasthan Assembly and Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said “political differences within the Congress” and “the larger conspiracy of the Social Democratic Party of India” had a role to play in the rioting.
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Winning trust vote in Assembly is a message to the forces that are trying to destabilize elected governments in the country. Their every tactic failed in Rajasthan. It is people’s unwavering trust in us and unity of our Congress MLAs that has brought this victory: Gehlot.
The motion of confidence moved by the Congress government was passed by voice vote, an expected win after the return of the 19 dissident MLAs led by Sachin Pilot to the party-fold.
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Earlier, I was part of the govt but now I am not. It is not important where one sits, but what is in the hearts and minds of people. As far as the seating pattern is considered, it is decided by the Speaker and party and I don't want to comment on it: Sachin Pilot.
The vote of confidence which was brought by the govt has been passed with a very good majority today in the Rajasthan Assembly. Despite various attempts by the opposition, the result is in favour of government: Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
Are agencies like ED, CBI, and Income Tax department not being misused in the country? When you hold a conversation on the telephone, don't you say the other person to join you on FaceTime and WhatsApp? Is this a good thing in a democracy?: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot in State Assembly
"I was safe on the seat I used to sit on earlier. Then I thought why have I been allotted a different seat. I saw that this is the border - ruling party on one side, opposition on other. Who is sent to border? The strongest warrior," says Sachin Pilot.
"Have discussed our ailments with the right doctor, have returned after treatment," says Pilot.
"The public has been seeing the drama unfold in Rajasthan over the past one month. The actors, heroes, villians are all from one party,"BJP's Rajendra Rathore is quoted as saying in a News18 report.
Congress continues to attack BJP over its alleged attempts to topple the Rajasthan government. Shanti Dhariwal takes a dig at Gajendra Shekhawat (without naming him), by saying, that he was dreaming of becoming the next Rajasthan Chief Minister.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Congress Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal says, "Rajasthan mein na Shah ki chali hai na kisi tahanshah ki".The BJP raises objections to mentions of Amit Shah.
A debate on the motion of confidence is underway in the house after the Assembly speaker gave approval. Speaker Joshi has allotted three hours time for the debate.
Rajasthan's Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal tables proposal for a trust vote, in the state assembly, reports ANI.
Congress' chief whip in Rajasthan Assembly, Mahesh Joshi, has submitted a notice to Speaker CP Joshi for a trust vote. The Speaker to take a decision on the notice shortly.
The session comes after a month-long political crisis in the state which started with the rebellion by Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs. With the disgruntled MLAs back in the party-fold, following the intervention of the top leadership, the Congress is likely to pass the floor test.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said it would be "a victory of truth" during the assembly session that began on Friday. The Congress government has said Gehlot will seek a vote of confidence after the opposition BJP said it will move a motion of no confidence against it.
Congress leader, Sachin Pilot, arrives at the Rajasthan Assembly. Congress Leaders who were stationed at Hotel Fairmont have also arrived at the Rajasthan Assembly, according to News18. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi reaches the state assembly as session to begin shortly.
In case, there are both a confidence motion and a no-confidence motion moved in an assembly, the vote of confidence will get precedence.
With the truce between Sachin Pilot and the Ashok Gehlot marking the end of the rebellion in the Congress ranks in Rajasthan, all eyes are set on the no-confidence motion which will likely be placed in Rajasthan Assembly session beginning on Friday.
The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government is likely to move a confidence motion in the Rajasthan Assembly during the session beginning Friday, a party leader said. This was announced Thursday at the Congress Legislature Party meeting chaired by Gehlot. Just hours earlier, the opposition BJP said it will move a no-confidence motion during the session.
Ruling party
Congress: 107 (19 from Pilot camp, BSP Has 6)
RLD: 1
Independent: 13
BTP: 2
Left: 2
Opposition
MLAs: 75
BJP: 72
RLP: 3
Six MLAs of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who crossed over to the Congress in Rajasthan, have been asked by the Mayawati-led party to vote against the Ashok Gehlot government during the trust vote, according to multiple media reports.
The trust vote is to be held today. The BSP has reportedly warned the MLAs that the party would initiate action against them if they go against the order.
Tomorrow in Vidhan Sabha, the Congress party will stand unitedly, Venugopal said after CLP meeting.
ANI
If BJP wants, it can bring no-confidence motion tomorrow, it is their job, addedSingh.
CM has said that if anyone has any complaints, they can meet him, whenever they want, he said.
ANI
Pilot and Gehlot shook hands in a moment marking the return of the sacked deputy chief minister and 18 other dissident MLAs to the party-fold, after the intervention earlier this week by the top Congress leadership in Delhi.
"Whatever misunderstanding occurred in the party in the last one month, we need to forgive and forget in the interest of the country, the state, the people and in the interest of democracy," Gehlot said in a tweet.
After a BJP legislative party, Leader of the Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria told reporters that the motion of no confidence will be moved in the assembly session which is beginning from Friday.
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati on Tuesday said the Rajasthan governor should take note of the “serious political situation" in the state so that the people can get rid of the political uncertainty.
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The month-long political crisis in Rajasthan blew over on Monday with rebel leader Sachin Pilot meeting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pledged to work in the interest of the party and the government in the state.
Rebel Congress MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma here on Monday met Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, indicating a patch-up between rival party factions.
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Under attack from the Congress for “destabilising” the Rajasthan government, BJP hit back on Monday after rebel leader Sachin Pilot called for a truce after meeting Rahul Gandhi.
Several Congress leaders "welcomed back" Sachin Pilot on Tuesday after the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister's meeting with Rahul Gandhi, signalling an "amicable resolution" of nearly a month-long political crisis in the state.
I thank Sonia ji, Rahul ji, Priyanka Gandhi ji & Congress leaders for noting & addressing our grievances. I stand firm in my belief & will continue working for a better India, to deliver on promises made to people of Rajasthan & protect democratic values we cherish: Sachin Pilot
Party gives us a post and can also take it back. I've no desire for any post but I wanted our self-respect to remain intact. I've contributed to the party for 18-20 years now. We've always attempted to ensure the participation of people who worked hard to form the govt: Sachin Pilot.
Several things were said, I heard a lot of things. I was surprised by a few things that were said. I think we should always maintain restraint and humility. There is no place for personal malice in politics. We had formed govt in Rajasthan after 5 years of hard work: Sachin Pilot.
Since past some time some MLAs were in Delhi, there were some issues which we wanted to highlight. I did that. I'd been saying since the beginning that all these things were based on principle. I always thought these things are essential to be raised in the party's interest: Sachin Pilot. (ANI)
Rebel Congress MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma here on Monday met Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, indicating a patch-up between rival party factions.
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Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia on Monday asked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to quit on moral grounds, saying he is the “villain” of the political crisis unfolding in the state.
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Sachin Pilot met with ex-Congress President Rahul Gandhi and expressed his grievances in detail. They had a frank, open and conclusive discussion. Sachin Pilot has committed to working in the interest of Congress party and Congress government in Rajasthan. Following this meeting, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has decided that the AICC will constitute a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Sachin Pilot and the aggrieved MLA and arrive at an appropriate resolution thereof: KC Venugopal, Gen-Secy, AICC. (ANI)
I met him. Party is like a family and Ashok Gehlot is its head. If someone gets upset in a family then they don't take food. So I expressed my unhappiness for a month. Now I don't have any resentment anymore. Party will fulfill all the promises made to people: Bhanwar Lal Sharma.
The Supreme Court on Monday decided to consider on Tuesday a plea to suspend the membership of six Rajasthan Assembly MLAs who got elected on BSP ticket and subsequently merged themselves with the ruling Congress party.
Rajasthan: Six BSP MLAs file a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking transfer from Rajsthan High Court to it a matter pertaining to their merger with Congress in the state. (ANI)
I'm very much aware of 12 BJP MLAs going for an excursion. Whenever BJP Legislature party meets, they all will be there as Rajasthan BJP is intact and united. Congress is spreading rumours about our MLAs with CM playing low-level politics: Satish Poonia, BJP Rajasthan President (ANI)
Union minister Kailash Chaudhary on Thursday said the Congress government inRajasthan, led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, would collapse and its countdown has begun.
With this, he said, the Congress's politics too would come to an end in the state. - PTI
Court disposed off the plea & directed that notices be published in newspapers & service be effectuated through Jaisalmer district judge who may, if need be, seek the help of the SP: Prateek Kalsiwal, advocate of Speaker CP Joshi. - ANI
In a relief to union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a cooperative society scam case, theRajasthanHigh Court has stayed the ADJ court order that had directed the magistrate court to send a criminal complaint for further investigation to the Special Operations Group (SOG).
The complaint had named Shekhawat and others as the alleged accused in the scam and sought further investigation by the SOG into their role.
A single judge bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while passing the interim directions on Wednesday, also admitted the criminal miscellaneous petition filed by one Keval Chand Dakaliya, who is a co-accused along with Shekhawat.
"Hon'ble High Court has rejected my petition on technical basis, on the basis of merit, therefore the Congress will not have to be happy then a petition will be filed against the merger of BSP MLAs," says BJP leader Madan Dilawar.
The Rajasthan High Court has issued notice to Assembly Speaker C P Joshi over the BJP leader Madan Dilawar's petition against the merger of six BSP MLAs with Congress and directing him to reply by tomorrow.
The next hearing will be 10.30 am tomorrow.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he will embrace rebel Congressmen if they apologise to the "high command", the Congress on Sunday made it clear that Sachin Pilot must first spell out his position unequivocally and hold a conversation.
The Congress also claimed that its government in Rajasthan was safe and would prove its majority on the floor of the house when the assembly meets on August 14.
"Sachin Pilot must come and hold a conversation first. Pilot must come out and state his position clearly and unequivocally first and only then can any talk of his return happen," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference.
(PTI)
The "silence" of senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia on the political developments in Rajasthan can be a "strategy", her party colleague and Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat said on Sunday.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get the alleged attempt to topple his government stopped and said he is open to welcoming back the Congress rebels led by Sachin Pilot. (PTI)
BJP Rajasthan president Satish Poonia on Friday questioned why Congress MLAs were camping in Jaisalmer if they were united, hours after the ruling party in the state shifted its legislators to the border district from here fearing "horse-trading".
The Special Operations Group of the Rajasthan Police will move the High Court to take the voice sample of Sanjay Jain arrested after being allegedly caught on audiotapes discussing the "plot" to topple the state government.
Rajasthan Assembly Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi approaches Supreme Court against July 24 order of Rajasthan High Court decision to defer disqualification proceedings against former deputy CM Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs.
"Why is the CM scared if there is no danger?": Rajasthan BJP Chief Satish Poonia on MLAs being flown to Jaisalmer to NDTV
The MLAs of the Ashok Gehlot camp, who have been staying at a hotel on the Jaipur- Delhi Highway amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, will be shifted to Jaisalmer on Friday, Congress sources said.
The MLAs will be shifted after the Congress Legislature Party meeting in the hotel, the sources said, adding, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will address the MLAs.
The MLAs have been staying in the hotel since July 13 after Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs rebelled against the government triggering the political crisis.
The sources did not elaborate on the reasons for shifting the MLAs.
"The Constitution is supreme for me," Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra said on Thursday, and refuted allegations that he had acted under the Central government's pressure in the political tussle.
The Governor also asked the Gehlot government to make all efforts to check the spread of coronavirus and focus on development work in the state.
In an interview to PTI, Mishra, who on Wednesday agreed with the state Cabinet’s proposal to call an assembly session from August 14, said he has always directed the state government to follow constitutional provisions in sending its request for convening a session.
A delegation of Goa Congress leaders met Governor Satya Pal Malik here on Thursday and submitted a memorandum, highlighting attempts to "subvert" constitutional norms in Rajasthan and accused the BJP of of trying to topple the party-led government in that state.
The move was part of the Congress's nationwide initiative to highlight the political crisis in Rajasthan and the BJP's alleged role in it.
The chief minister claimed that MLAs have been getting calls after Governor Kalraj Mishra agreed Wednesday night to convene a session from August 14.
Gehlot said earlier the 'rate' was Rs 10 crore as the first instalment and Rs 15 crore as the second.
“Now, it is being asked how much do you want? This means that the rate has increased. Everyone knows who is doing the horse-trading,” he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday indicated that he will seek a confidence vote when the assembly convenes next fortnight and claimed that the money offered to the MLAs to switch sides had increased sharply ahead of the session.
BJP state president Satish Poonia on Thursday said Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi should step down as his political leanings are towards saving the Ashok Gehlot government. Poonia’s remarks were in the context of an unverified video clip of a purported conversation between Joshi and chief minister's son Vaibhav Gehlot in which he is heard saying that had 30 MLAs left the Congress party, the government would have collapsed.
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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday claimed that the "rates of horse trading" in the state have increased after it was announced that the Assembly session would begin from August 14.
All MLAs are enthusiastic, Opposition MLAs are happy too as everyone knows that people & leaders of Rajasthan wanted that Constitution be respected. Governor gave a date for convening of Assembly Session (14th August). We've full majority: Pratap Khachariyawas, Rajasthan Minister. - ANI
The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday resumed hearing on a plea filed by a BJP legislator against the Speaker's decision to reject his complaint against the merger of six BSP MLAs into Congress.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday hit out at the Centre over its "wrong" policies, alleging that they have proved "disastrous" for the nation.
He shared on Twitter a post by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacking the Narendra Modi government over issues like demonetisation and GST.
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CM Ashok Gehlot tells MLAs at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting that they will have to stay at Hotel Fairmont in Jaipur till 14th August (start of assembly session). Ministers can visit Secretariat to complete their work: Source present at CLP meet tells ANI.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra accepted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s revised proposal to convene the session of the assembly from August 14, capping the nearly week-long face-off over the issue.
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Hope that without any pressure or partiality, you'll give full respect to the workers whose hard work resulted in govt formation, saysSachin Pilot Pilot
1. 21-day notice period before convening session
2. Maintaining social distancing norms
3. Certain conditions to be followed, in case confidence motion is moved
He asked the state govt toresubmit proposal seeking to convene an assembly session.
A lawyer on Wednesday moved a writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court questioning the Governor's move of notconvening the assembly session.
Political defection occurs in two stages -- first, the abandonment of loyalty toward one’s political party; second, the shifting of one’s loyalty to another party. The victim party can invoke the disqualification threat at the first stage itself.
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The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's elder brother for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in exporting fertiliser, officials said Tuesday.
Rebel Congress MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma on Tuesday moved the Rajasthan High Court for quashing of an FIR lodged against him after the surfacing of some audio tapes in one of which he is allegedly heard talking to a Union minister for toppling the Gehlot government through horse-trading.
The MLA, who is in Sachin Pilot camp, moved the court alternatively demanding the transfer of the investigation into the case to the National Investigation Agency from the Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan police.
The SOG had registered the FIR against Sharma on July 17.
(PTI)
The Congress on Tuesday started an online campaign '#GetWellSoonGovernor' as the party urged Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra to come out of his “oppressive thinking” and call the state Assembly session without any delay.
"Congress is another name for horse-trading" said JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday as he slammed the party's erstwhile state ally for its nationwide "Save Democracy" campaign against the BJP, accusing it of trying to topple democratically elected governments.
The Rajasthan Cabinet on Tuesday discussed the points raised by Governor Kalraj Mishra for calling the state assembly session and said it is sticking to its demand for holding the session from July 31.
BJP MLA Madan Dilawar on Tuesday filed a fresh writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court challenging the decision of the state assembly speaker to reject his complaint over six BSP MLAs joining the Congress.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday took a veiled dig at the BSP, alleging that the whip issued by it to its MLAs in Rajasthan is a clean chit to those who "murdered" democracy and the Constitution.
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BJP leader Madan Dilwar files another petition before Rajasthan High Court against the merger of six BSP MLAs in the state with Congress party.
The petition seeks cancellation of the membership of the six BSP MLAs from the state legislative Assembly. (ANI)
BSP could have gone to the court earlier too but we were looking for a time to teach Congress party and CM Ashok Gehlot a lesson. Now we have decided to go to the Court. We will not let this matter alone. We will go even to the Supreme Court: BSP Chief Mayawati
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday alleged that efforts are being made to destablise the Left-led Kerala government by the Congress and the BJP on the pretext of the gold smuggling case.
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Congress general secretary Avinash Pande on Monday claimed that many among the 19 rebel MLAs, led by ousted deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, was in the touch with the party leaders. Pandey, also the party’s state’s in charge, said the Congress will use all available democratic means to resolve the current political deadlock in the state.
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Congress general secretary K C Venugopal alleged the BJP was using "money power and intimidation" in its bid to topple governments in states.
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Three former law ministers in the UPA government—Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Ashwani Kumar—on Monday wrote to Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra asking him to adhere to the rules and call a session of the state assembly as advised by the state government.
10-15 MLAs of Ashok Gehlot camp are in contact with us & are saying they will come to our side as soon as they are set free. If Gehlot removes restrictions, it'll become clear how many MLAs remain on their side: Hemaram Choudhary, MLA, Sachin Pilot camp. - ANI
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written to President Ram Nath Kovind and spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the current political situation in the state.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Monday agreed to summon a session of the state assembly provided the government gives a 21-day notice.
The Governor is only a formal instrument to sign & issue summons to the MLAs. If a Chief Minister who is accused of not enjoying a majority wants to prove his majority, is entitled to call a session at the earliest to prove his majority.
We're astonished & anguished by the attitude of the Governor of Rajasthan. We're therefore protesting today before all Raj Bhawans in the country to highlight the gravity of the issue & draw people's attention to violations of the Constitution: Congress leader P Chidambaram. - ANI